Combine Harvester Header Floor with V-Shaped Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters face issues with crop material build-up in the central area, leading to obstructions and irregular feeding, particularly in the lateral portions where the extended floor length may not match the density and height of the crops.
Innovation Solution
A header design with a floor that extends further outward in the center than at the sides, featuring a V-shaped front border that is either fixed or adjustable, allowing for pivotable cutterbar and floor portions to adapt to the crop height and density, and utilizing actuators to control the shape, along with cover plates to cover gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the header floor is extended forward to provide more support for harvested crops in the central area, then the obstruction problem in the centre is solved, but the length of the floor is not matched to the density and height of the crops in the lateral portions, leading to irregular feeding from the sides
Solution Approach 1:
The header floor is divided into multiple sections: a central section that extends forward and lateral sections that extend less forward. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the central section provides support where crop build-up occurs, while the lateral sections maintain proper length for regular feeding from the sides.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the header floor have different lengths tailored to local crop conditions. The central area receives extended floor support to prevent obstruction, while the lateral portions maintain shorter lengths appropriate for their crop density and height, creating locally optimized feeding conditions throughout the header width.
2Reliability
If the header floor is extended forward uniformly across the width, then more support is provided for harvested crops, but the extended floor does not match the varying density and height of crops in different lateral portions
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is segmented into a central extension portion and lateral portions, allowing the central area to be extended forward for crop support while the lateral areas maintain appropriate lengths for their specific crop conditions, achieving both support and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each section of the floor is designed with the specific length and configuration needed for its location - the central section extends forward to handle crop build-up, while lateral sections are optimized for their local crop density and height variations, providing locally adapted performance throughout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the header floor is made moveable to adapt to crop height, then the length of the floor can be adjusted to the height of the harvested crops, but the moveable floor creates complexity in maintaining consistent floor length across different header portions
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable floor is segmented into multiple independent sections that can be adjusted separately. This allows the central section to be extended for crop support while lateral sections maintain appropriate lengths, providing adaptability without requiring a single complex moveable mechanism for the entire floor.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the moveable floor have different adjustment capabilities and positions optimized for their local requirements. The central section can be extended forward to provide support, while lateral sections are positioned to match local crop conditions, achieving local optimization through the moveable design.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A header for a combine harvester comprises a header floor mounted between the sidewalls of the header and in front of the header's back wall. A cutterbar is mounted at the front border of the header floor. The header floor extends further outward in the centre of the header than at the sides, or the header floor is extendable further outward in the centre than at the sides. According to preferred embodiments, the front border of the header floor is V-shaped, wherein the V-shape is either fixed or adjustable. In the latter case, the header may comprise pivotable cutterbar portions and/or pivotable floor portions configured to pivot forward in order to assume an adjustable V-shape. Actuators are present to control the adjustment of the floor's shape, while cover plates may be included to cover any gaps appearing when the floor assumes the V-shape.